Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist

Job Posting Title:

Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist

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Hiring Department:

Curriculum and Instruction

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2025

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

The university provides employees a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance (premiums covered 100% for full-time benefits-eligible employees), retirement plans, and paid leave, in addition to other programs and services. 

Purpose

The Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist at IPSI provides comprehensive lifecycle support to Principal Investigators, Project Directors and other staff in the preparation, development, and submission of contracts, and to ensure that all University policies and procedures including purchasing requirements are met prior to submitting a contract for review and signature.  

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and submit contracts (Business contracts, Interlocal Cooperation Contracts, Interagency Cooperation Contracts, Letter of Agreements for several federal grants. Exercise sound decision-making and problem-solving skills in the negotiation of grants, contracts, and other agreements, including ongoing monitoring of proposals and resulting awards.

• Serve as liaison between the PI and team members and Business Contracts Office, Purchasing, Office of Sponsored Projects, and College of Education regarding contracts submissions.

• Facilitate the execution of contracts while ensuring compliance with Board of Regents' Rules and Regulations and University, state, and federal laws, policies, and procedures. Negotiate with sponsors on behalf of The University of Texas at Austin the terms of contracts and agreements, including review and interpretation of award document terms and conditions, for compliance with State and University fiscal and administrative policies.

• Ensure that all University policies and procedures including purchasing requirements are met prior to submitting a contract for review and signature. Negotiate with agency grant/contract officers and/or Legal Counsel to provide for modification or removal of inappropriate or unacceptable terms and conditions, including issues related to publication and intellectual property rights, fiscal reporting requirements, and payment schedules.

• Provide monthly updates of contracts. Assist and meet with PIs, Project Directors, and their staff as needed.

• Support IPSI leadership by providing related financial reports and expenditure updates as requested. Assist with grant match collection and documentation.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or other relevant field and five years of experience in preparation, processing, and negotiation of grant and contract proposals and awards. Exceptional organizational skills, including time management and managing multiple deadlines. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate policies and procedures to a broad audience. Ability to work independently and collaboratively with other team members. Ability to be discreet with confidential matters and to use sound judgment to facilitate independent decisions. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word programs.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with UT Austin policies, procedures and electronic systems including Contracts Plus, FRMS, and DEFINE. Experience with Purchasing guidelines. Broad knowledge of the sponsored research spectrum within a college/university environment Previous experience with GEAR UP.

Salary Range

$75,000+ depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions with repetitive use of keyboard at a workstation.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subseque